Has anyone stained their log home on their own?

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Permalink Reply by ChinkerBob on January 19, 2009 at 11:09pm

Kevin

For some reason the add link method isn't working for me. But I've found a workaround.

http://www.loghomeu.com/profiles/blogs/log-check-needs-caulking

If there is a link above this sentence, it worked this time. Hope you don't have to cut and paste it.

Did you finish your logs with a water-based product. I'm asking only because I am familiar with water-based, not so much the oil-based, and I don't want to give bad advice.

If it is water-based, and given that you live in a humid environment (I assume. I used to live in Evansville IN and it was humid enough there. You're further south.)

Harsh climates, be it because of heat, cold, exposure to the weather or other extremes usually dictate an additional clear coat every few years. Exactly how often you have to do it is hard to say without knowing your specifics. If you are out in the open and you house gets blasted by the sun or very wet in the rain you may be due for a clear top coat every two years, but more likely every three. If your house is in the trees and protected from extremes (without getting a coat of lichen growing on it annually) then you may be able to go four or five years.

I like to use the scratch test. Go to some part of your log walls that gets a lot of extreme weather (sun, rain, whatever applies) and lightly scratch your fingernail across the grain. If it leaves a scratch and little bits of powdery stuff, you might already have waited too long. If it leaves a light scratch its time. If it seems solid, and the area you tried is typical of the most vulnerable walls, then you're probably okay for at least another year.

Another thing you can look for is "sunburn". If the tops of the logs on the sunny side are getting noticeably darker than the underside of the logs, your logs don't have enough UV protection and are being damaged. If its just starting to happen, a coat of clear may well help stop the problem. People who let the problem go to far end up with sadly discolored logs that should really be completely refinished.

Lastly, you can get a look at how much the logs have changed color since the stain was applied. If you look high up under porch roofs or under the north side of the roof, again, high up, you should see stained logs that are more or less exactly the same color they were when you first stained. Compare what you see to the most exposed logs, and if things are changing a lot (they'll change in color to some degree. Nobody's finish is perfect) it is probably time to put another coat on.

If you can keep up the clear coats over time, applying them before the previous coat has a chance to fail enough to cause a lot of damage, you should be able to go for years before you have to completely restrip and restain. And if you keep a the logs in pretty good shape by reapplying the clear, you may well be able to restain with color at some point in the future without stripping off the old finish. The house will probably end up darker, depending on what you used in the first place, and what color you put over it, but its still better on ye olde pocket book than a strip and refinish.

Don't know how long you can make the finish last in KY. I have a friend here in Montana that lives in a house he built in around 1985 and through recoats of clear and I believe one recoat of color his logs look good and are sound physically as well 24 years later. He has had to strip and restain the log deck railings, but they always get hammered. If you have log railings out in the open, don't expect them to do as well as the wall logs. I'd be surprised if they lasted longer than 15 years in your climate no matter how hard you tried to keep them alive. they are too out in the open.

You may have more specific questions after you've looked at your house. Let me know.

Bob

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Permalink Reply by Kelly on January 23, 2009 at 9:00pm

Hi Kevin Cherry,

You can veiw the discussing about filling in the checks on my home page.

If you have any questions feel free to email me.

Good Luck with this!

Kelly

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Permalink Reply by Tom on January 22, 2009 at 7:41pm

I stained and added the top coat to our new Katahdin Cedar Log Home this fall. After speaking with several log home owners, I chose to use Ultra 2 & Lifeline Advance Topcoat (satin finish) by Permachink. Permachink is waterbased, therefore a green product.

The other product that I considered was Sikkens oil based stain and top coat. Both Permachink & Sikkens have the initial 3 times around the house. With the Permachink you apply the top coat a 2nd time - 1 time around the house within 18-24 months later.
With Sikkens in 36 months after the initial application, 3 times around the house for a total of 6 times around the house.

Therefore the Permachink in a five year period is less labor & costs less overall.

I had never used a paint sprayer before, so I practiced on our log shed first. After I finished staining the first wall (8x14), I had the spray adjusted while my other half was busy back brushing. Completing the house went quickly with the aid of the paint sprayer.

The top coat looks milky when being applied, but drys nicely. Clean up at the end of each day was a breeze. I went over to the closest neighbors and used their hose. We applied the stain prior to the windows being installed. The spray machine never clogged during the several weeks it took to complete the project.

I also used the log end seal by Permachink. The labor was the most difficult part of the process. You have to sand the log ends before staining. The log end seal looks and smells like elmers glue when applying, it dries clear.

Tom

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Permalink Reply by John & Barbara Padgett on January 22, 2009 at 9:22pm

We built a Satterwhite log home ( or I should say they built it in 16 days and we contracted and finished it ourselves). My husband is a painter and finisher by trade(yatchs) and he is very picky to say the least. So we went about the protection and staining the outside and inside of our home with Permachink (water based) lifeline 2 and we are so happy with it. Be sure to pick a color that has the most pigment in it (for fade protection) and then do just as they say with every process. From first layer protection to final process and now 2 years down the road with 1 year of log wash we could not be happier. House still looks and feels the same as it did at the first. We used the interior protection and clear satin finish with 2 final coats of the finish. Our friends who have used other products are so jealous because after the first year they had to re do and the cost is soooo much more. We live in the swamp and are testimony that permachink is the way to go. All the way to go.

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Permalink Reply by Dave and Julie Christiansen on January 23, 2009 at 2:09am

I think you hit the nail right on the head with Permachink. Julie and I also plan on using the same products you used on our log home. In my opinion, Lifeline 2 is probably one of the best products on the market. Plus water based stains are the way of the future. We plan on doing ours this summer. Dave

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Permalink Reply by Greg SWEETS on January 23, 2009 at 7:41am

Its great hearing people that have used Ultra 2 and lifeline advance topcoats for their
log home.Ultra 2 is one of the best products on the market.I glad to here that John &
Barbara used log wash to clean there home with,easy to do and makes the stain look
new again.Also when choosing a color ask for samples they send out wet samples
so customers can see what the color looks like on their wood.Every piece of wood will
take stain different so its best to get samples instead of choosing from a picture.

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Permalink Reply by Greg SWEETS on January 23, 2009 at 8:27am

Just wanted to add one more thing for homeowners that are wanting to learn how
to stain and protect their log home.Perma Chinks offers a seminar once a month
free to the public and also serve lunch.The seminar will teach you how to appy
stains and finishes to your log home from start to finish.By the way did I say
it was Free.We have over 5 locations around the US that holds these seminars.Also
for contractors we also have a mobile training van thats comes to different locations
around the U.S. to show you on how to prep your home for staining,chinking or anything
from start to finish.Look for a seminar near you.These seminars are usally on Saturdays
from 9to 4.Also they will show you how to use a media blaster removing stains from
your log home.

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